Hockey is a fast game and things happen quickly. Fans as well as the NHL have a tendency to react solely to the outcome of the hit. I find it interesting the referees on the ice had no intention of calling a penalty on the play and didn't raise an arm until after realizing Boyle was seriously injured.

This incident was more about bad luck than a bad play.

-Andy Strickland of FoxSports Midwest on the Maxim Lapierre hit on Dan Boyle. More on the hit and other hits in the game too...

The Vancouver Canucks announced a ruling today by the NHL Officiating Department after a review of the penalties assessed to Maxim Lapierre at 19:32 of the third period on February 9, 2012. The Hockey Operations Department has reviewed the incident and rescinds the penalty assessed and recorded in the stick related category of game misconducts.

Ryan Getzlaf had another CT scan today and visited with a specialist (maxillofacial surgeon). The CT scan showed that the nasal sinus fractures are non-displaced and stable. However, more evaluation of the bone breaks are needed over the next several days before a definitive expected absence can be determined. For the time being, Getzlaf is out indefinitely.

via Helene Elliott of the Fabulous Forum,

Lapierre, 25, said he is excited about getting a new start with the Ducks after getting progressively less playing time with the Canadiens. He averaged 11:41 over 38 games this season, slightly down from 12:16 last season and a big drop from his average of 14:48 in 2008-09.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of St. Leonard said he didn’t ask out, though he did ask for clarification of his role under Coach Jacques Martin.

“We had a discussion. I didn’t really ask to be traded but I wanted to know where things were at for me,” he said. “I asked if I was part of their plans and they pretty much said no.

The alternative to the standard game recap became a staple of my Tampa Bay Lightning coverage last season and it was only a matter of time before it made its season debut here.

Sure, the title of the regular feature has now been copied by a second-rate Bolts blog as of this morning but the content can’t hold a candle to the original and, hell, you’re here with me and they’re, well… They’re sleeping, I’m sure, on Pacific Time and what not… (Lightning coverage from California? Now that’s insight!)

The incident took place with 4:02 left in the second period as both players chased a puck to the side boards. Downie was in the lead, and it appeared Lapierre extended his arms to push him into the boards.

Lightning coach Guy Boucher and GM Steve Yzerman said they did not see what happened and could not comment. C Steven Stamkos called it “a dangerous hit” and asked the referees why Lapierre was not thrown out of the game. “He said if Downs would have been hurt, (Lapierre) would have gotten tossed,” Stamkos said.

Considering Lapierre is a first-time offender, and also considering some of the other suspensions handed out this season, I found the punishment a little harsh. But I only thought it was a bit too severe because of all the other times the NHL has come down very lightly on players this season. Four games for that dangerous hit Lapierre laid on Nichol, when looked at in a vacuum, appears more than fair. In fact, it’s probably too light.

Then I figured I should see what exactly constitutes a play worthy of such a suspension this season, so I decided to look at every play that earned the perpetrator at least a three-game vacation this season. I’ll let you be the judge.

TORONTO (March 5, 2010) – Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre has been suspended for four games, without pay, for a late hit on San Jose Sharks forward Scott Nichol during NHL game #949, last night, the National Hockey league announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Lapierre will forfeit $14,248.72. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

At 1:50 of the third period, Lapierre knocked Nichols into the end boards with a late, careless hit. Nichol was injured on the play and did not return to the game. No penalty was assessed on the play.

The Sharks took exception to a play in the third period where Maxim Lapierre knocked an off balance Scott Nichol sending him hard into the end boards. A scuffle between the two teams ensued.

Nichol lay on the ice for a time before getting up on his own, but he left the game and did not return.

Lapierre was not assessed a penalty on the play.

After the game Sharks’ head coach Todd McLellan told the Mercury News he thought the hit was “a missed call and a real dangerous play.”

Sharks’ defenceman Dan Boyle had a similar view.

“There was, as far as I’m concerned, a really dirty hit on our guy Scott Nichol.” said Boyle. “Pushing a guy from behind into the boards, I have not seen the reply yet, but you can paralize a guy and there is no place for that in hockey.”

We didn’t play the way we wanted. This team wants to be in the playoffs, but it’s not going to come from anyone else. We have to work together and get some points. It doesn’t matter if we score ugly goals. It’s getting late and we have to find a way to win.”

-Maxim Lapierre of the Montreal Canadiens after their loss to the Leafs tonight. More from Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette.

Ottawa Senators forward Jarkko Ruutu has been suspended two games, without pay by the NHL.

The NHL had a disciplinary hearing for Ruutu on Wednesday morning. The incident in question occurred during the third period of Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. Ruutu delivered an elbow to the head of Maxim Lapierre.

Lapierre did not appear to suffer any injury on the play and Ruutu was assessed a two-minute minor for charging, but the infraction did violate at least two tenets of the NHL’s policy on hits to the head.